An emotional Stephen McNeil delivered condolences to the family of the first Nova Scotian to die from COVID-19 and angry warnings to people continuing to break public health orders.

"To her family, there are no words that I can say to take away the pain and suffering that your family is experiencing today," the Nova Scotia premier said at a news conference Tuesday in Halifax. "Other than I hope that you know this entire province has its arms wrapped around you as a family as you go through this very, very difficult time."

A woman in her 70s with underlying medical conditions died in hospital in the eastern zone on Monday, the Health Department announced Tuesday. Sources say the woman was a patient at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney.

McNeil's anger was directed at those ignoring social distancing orders, such as a crowd of people who lined up outside the Costco store in Halifax on the weekend. The premier also singled out areas such as Enfield and the Prestons, where there are reports of regular parties and gatherings.

Public health has set up temporary assessment units in these communities because there is unusually high COVID activity and fears of community spread.

"Remember that six feet, two metres apart, all the science says it works," the premier said. "So for crying out loud, just do it. ... I can't even believe after everything we've been talking about some of you think it's OK to have a gathering or a party. You are not only putting yourself at risk, you're putting everyone in your community at risk, and some of them work at our hospitals and long-term-care homes.

"You are the reckless and selfish who won't listen and won't stop partying. Well, think about this. As you're planning your weekend, there's a Nova Scotia family planning life without their loved one because of this virus. ... For the love of God, stay home and stop partying, please."

Nova Scotia has 310 confirmed cases of the virus, with 17 more reported Tuesday. Eleven people were in hospital while 66 had recovered.

Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer, said he shared the premier's frustration about people ignoring public health orders.

"Today's tragic news is a stark reminder that this is a serious disease," Strang said. "If people crowd up outside, all the rules inside the stores are for naught. There are too many incidents of people still not getting it."

I had hoped this day would never come & I’m deeply saddened a family is going through this. My deepest condolences go to the family & friends who are grieving today. This virus is dangerous. We have to work to slow it down to protect ourselves, those we love and everyone in NS.

Strang would not speak to the specific situation of the woman who died Monday and wouldn't confirm reports she was a long-term-care resident who died at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, citing privacy concerns.

"The death only happened yesterday and there's an ongoing public health follow-up on this case," he said. "At any health-care facility, we always bring in infectious control and occupational health."

Strang also addressed moves to equip frontline health-care workers with N95 masks to reduce the spread of the virus. Previously, he had said the use of those masks should be restricted to particular medical procedures, such as surgeries.

But it's now believed people with the virus are more contagious than previously thought, even when they have very mild or no COVID-19 symptoms at all.

"It's the recognition of that, which is fairly new evidence, without being conclusive around that, that it's the justification for health-care workers," Strang said.

"This is not about health-care workers being protected from the patients. It's actually the health-care worker who may be pre- or asymptomatic and minimizing the chance of them spreading to a co-worker or a patient by wearing a surgical mask when they're providing frontline care. ... We're looking at this for the rest of the health system as appropriate."

As of Tuesday, 10,931 people had been tested for the virus in Nova Scotia. The testing lab at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax has ramped up to a 24/7 operation and aims to do 1,000 tests per day, Strang has said.

Since community spread of the respiratory virus has been confirmed, the province has dropped the "travel-related" condition for those eligible for testing. Now anyone with a new or worsening cough and/or fever should undergo the modified screening assessment on the province's 811 site.

Also Tuesday, the Northwood long-term-care company said another Halifax staff member tested positive for COVID-19. To date, Northwood has two Halifax staff members, two home-care workers and two Halifax residents with confirmed cases of the virus.

"All known potential staff contacts have been notified and any potential resident contacts are being swabbed and will be on precautions and regularly monitored for symptoms," Northwood said in an update posted to its site.